Morales is promised a salary of $110,000, the same Earley was receiving when he stepped down. That amounts to a 7.4 percent raise, when compared with the salary to which Morales was entitled as the deputy city manager and chief financial officer.

One way Morales' agreement differs from Earley's is the automobile allowance given to the city manager. While Earley received a company vehicle and gas card, Morales is being given a flat $500/month stipend meant to cover all transportation expenses.

Employee Services Director Dennis Jordan said the stipend is less expensive than covering a car payment, insurance premium, regular maintenance and gas expenses.

Jordan said Morales also will receive two less paid time off days than Earley, meaning an about $850 per year savings. Morales is also limited on how many unused PTO days he can accumulate at two years' worth, while Earley's PTO bank was unlimited.

Though the effective date of Morales' agreement allows it to be retroactive to the date of his taking over for Early on Oct. 8, it has no termination date. The "indefinite term" of Morales' contract with the city allows City Council to fire him from the position for any reason with a two-thirds vote.

The contract also states that, if City Council removes him from the position, Morales has the right to return to his former position of Deputy City Manager "without loss of seniority," though his "compensation and benefits will be restored to the levels he received when he was Deputy City Manager/CFO."